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my hunger before； only ate a few of the crumbs； and then went to take a
survey of the adjoining apartment。 I crept softly under the door of the
closet into a room； as large as that which I had before been in； though not
so elegantly furnished； for； instead of being covered with a carpet； there
was only a small one round the bed； and near the fire was a cradle； with a
cleanly…looking woman sitting by it； rocking it with her foot； whilst at the
same time she was combing the head of a little boy about four years old。
In the middle of the room stood a table； covered with a great deal of litter；
and in one corner was the little girl whom I had before seen with her
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
mamma； crying and sobbing as if her heart would break。 As I made not
the least noise at my entrance； no one observed me for some time； so
creeping under one of the beds； I heard the following discourse：
'It does not signify； miss；' said the woman； who I found was the
children's nurse； 'I never will put up with such behaviour： you know that
I always do everything for you when you speak prettily； but to be ordered
to dress you in such a manner； is what I never will submit to： and you
shall go undressed all day before I will dress you； unless you ask me as
you ought to do。' Nancy made no reply； but only continued crying。
'Aye！ you may cry and sob as much as you please；' said the nurse； 'I do not
care for that： I shall not dress you for crying and roaring； but for being
good and speaking with civility。' Just as she said these words； the door
opened； and in came the lady whom I before saw； and whose name I
afterwards found was Artless。 As soon as she entered； the nurse
addressed her； saying； 'Pray； madam； is it by your desire that Miss Nancy
behaves so rudely； and bids me dress her directly； and change the buckles
in her shoes； or else she will slap my face？ Indeed she did give me a slap
upon my hand； so I told her； that I would not dress her at all； for really；
madam； I thought you would not wish me to do it； whilst she behaved so；
and I took the liberty of putting her to stand in the corner。' 'I do not
think；' replied Mrs。 Artless； 'that she deserves to stand in the room at all； or
in the house either； if she behaves in that manner： if she does not speak
civilly when she wants to be assisted； let her go without help； and see what
will become of her then。 I am quite ashamed of you； Nancy！ I could
not have thought you would behave so； but since you have； I promise that
you shall not be dressed today； or have any assistance given you； unless
you speak in a very different manner。'
Whilst Mrs。 Artless was talking； nurse went out of the room。 Mrs。
Artless then took her seat by the cradle； and looking into it； found the child
awake； and I saw her take out a fine little girl； about five months old： she
then continued her discourse； saying； 'Look here； Nancy； look at this little
baby； see how unable it is to help itself； were we to neglect attending to it；
what do yon think would become of it？ Suppose I were now to put your
sister upon the floor； and there leave her； tell me what do you think she
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
could do； or what would become of her？' Nancy sobbed out； that she
would die。 'And pray； my dear；' continued Mrs。 Artless； 'if we were to
leave you to yourself； what would become of you？ It is true； you talk
and run about better than Polly： but not a bit better could you provide for；
or take care of yourself。 Could you buy or dress your own victuals？
could you light your own fire？ could you clean your own house； or open
and shut the doors and windows？ could you make your own clothes； or
even put them on without some assistance； when made？ And who do you
think will do anything for you； if you are not good； and do not speak
civilly？ Not I； I promise you； neither shall nurse； nor any of the servants；
for though I pay them wages to help to do my business for me； I never
want them to do anything unless they are desired in a pretty manner。
Should you like； if when I want you to pick up my scissors； or do any little
job； I were to say； 〃Pick up my scissors this moment； or I will slap your
face？〃 Should not you think that it sounded very cross and disagreeable？'
'Yes； madam；' replied Nancy。 'Then why；' rejoined Mrs。 Artless； 'should
you speak cross to anybody； particularly to servants and poor people？ for
to behave so to them； is not only cross； but insolent and proud： it is as if
you thought that because they are rather poorer； they are not so good as
yourself； whereas； I assure you； poverty makes no difference in the merit
of people； for those only are deserving of respect who are truly good； and
a beggar who is virtuous； is far better than a prince who is wicked。' I was
prevented from hearing any more of this very just discourse； by the little
boy's opening the door and letting in a cat； which； though it was the first
that I had ever seen in my life； I was certain was the same destructive
animal to our race； which I had frequently heard my mother describe。 I
therefore made all possible haste back to the closet； and warning
Brighteyes of our danger； we instantly returned by the same way which we
came； to our two brothers； whom we found waiting for us； and wondering
at our long absence。 We related to them the dainty cheer which we had
met with； and agreed to conduct them thither in the evening。
Accordingly； as soon as it grew towards dusk； we climbed up the wall； and
all four together attacked the plum…cake； which no one had touched since
we left it； but scarcely had we all seated ourselves round it； than on a
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sudden the closet…door opened； and a woman entered。 Away we all
scampered as fast as possi